Stamen: Design : Genius

Since 2006, Stamen Design "studio has grown to a staff of thirteen, and has established a reputation for its expertise in creating compelling interactive design and data visualization projects. They are a 100% independently owned company.

At Stamen’s core is a commitment to extending our understanding through research projects. Their client work is full of opportunity for invention and discovery, and suggests inspirations beyond the immediate task at hand. Stamen’s close engagement with technology leads them to explore numerous research projects, which have a way of finding applications in the real world. They are neither a research and development lab, nor a straight up design firm. Stamen is something in between and among and around these things: a place where work is valued, where good ideas can come from anywhere, and results are paramount.

They work in San Francisco’s Mission District, above a grocery store in an old carpet factory at the corner of 16th and Mission Streets. The studio is a space full of plants, music, books, and laughter." (*CopiedfromStamen.comand changed the narrative to third-party)...

If I had to pick only one innovative design studio/firm/consultancy/team that I would want to associate myself with, it would be Stamen. From what I can decipher, their mission, vision, products, services, values, aspirations, and essence is exactly what I want to strive for as a cartographer, data interpreter, geo-spatial analyst, and designer. I really enjoy all of their projects, but the National Geographic iPad App, Toner/Watercolor Cartography, Pretty Maps, Cabspotting, LOCOG 2012, Nike Grid, Crimespotting are definitely my favorites.